CHENNAI: The State government on Tuesday launched a massive campaign to popularise micro irrigation system (MIS) among farmers by providing subsidy ranging from 75 to 100 per cent for installing the facility in their agricultural lands. While 100 per cent subsidy will be given to small and marginal farmers to establish micro irrigation system in 60,000 acres, other farmers will get 75 per cent subsidy for setting up the system in 15,000 acres. Women, those belonging to SC and ST, ex-servicemen and differently-abled, engaged in farming, will be given priority under the scheme.Under the scheme, marginal farmers will be given 100 per cent subsidy to install micro irrigation system for 2.5 acres of land, while small farmers would be given subsidy for five acres of land. Those who are engaged in agriculture on leased lands can also avail this scheme. Two or more farmers can come together and install this system and avail the subsidy. The farmers would be given a maximum subsidy of `43,816 per acre for installing MIS. They will also be given subsidy for installing drip and sprinkle irrigation systems. They can select the firms for the supply of irrigation equipment from the list of firms recognised by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Authority (TANHODA). A tripartite agreement would be signed between the beneficiary, the supplier and TANHODA to ensure that the firm, which supplies the system, maintain the same for three years and repair the system in case of any problems faced by the farmers.The TANHODA will inform the firm concerned about the application of the farmers within 10 days of receipt of the application. The farmer should prepare the land for installation of the system within seven days. Following this, the firm will take 15 days time to install the system.The deadline fixed for each step of the process will ensure speedy implementation of the system. A Service Card system would be introduced to monitor the service provided by the supplier firm. Besides, the farmers will be given and guide in Tamil and training will be provide to them on using and maintaining the MIS. Micro irrigation initiatives to popularize Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation commenced as early as in 1991 during the first tenure of J Jayalalithaa as CM.The net irrigated area in TN is only 58 percent. The irrigation intensity is coming down over the years. As the State has already utilised more than 95 per cent of the surface water and 85 per cent of the ground water potential, the scope for improving water use efficiency lies mainly in expanding the area under Micro Irrigation.A similar subsidy pattern will be followed in the IAMWARM project as well. During 2011-2012, it is proposed to cover 1.25 lakh acres in all - covering 87,500 acres under the Micro Irrigation Mission and 37,500 acres under Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management Project (IAMWARM). The budget towards both these systems for the current year is `151 crore.
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